It may be coming up to two years since London hosted the Olympic games, but the legacy feeling is still going strong. The games brought good feeling all around the country and raised awareness for many great sports and the athletes who take part in them, yet there was one discipline that saw particular British triumph.
The success of Team GB’s (Great Britain) cycling team saw a huge surge of interest in the sport and that popularity has showed no signs of slowing down in the wake of the games. Those who are missing the magic of summer 2012 in London will be pleased to know there is a great range of cycling events to feast your eyes on in the big city this year. Cycling events can be all day affairs, so if you’re planning to get the most out of your visit to London, you can find great prices on rooms for the night here to turn your trip into a weekend to really remember.
Here are some of the choice cycle events in London in 2014:
Revolution Series
The Lee Valley VeloPark is how the Olympic Velodrome is now known, but the change in name won’t have meant a change in atmosphere as the most elite levels of cycling competition return to the state of the art cycling stadium. The grand final of the 11th installment of the Revolution Series will take place on the 15th March and is likely to draw the biggest crowd since the event the stadium was built for. The Revolution final is sure to bring just as much action as the Olympic cycling as this is one of the most important events in the world cycling calendar.
Tour de France
this image is from 2010 in France, 2014 an early stage is in London
Yes, you’ve read that right; Tour de France will be kicking off in Yorkshire on the 5th of July before passing through London on the 7th. The colossal multi-stage competition passes through other countries regularly on its all consuming quest to deliver diverse challenges to the competing teams and will be passing iconic London landmarks including Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. Seeing the world’s best cyclists at these famous locations will be a treat for any cycling fan or tourist, and it’s an opportunity not to be missed, as there is no guarantee the competition will pass through again next year.
Prudential RideLondon
get out and start cycling too...
Set up in 2013 to keep the Olympic cycling spirit alive by Boris Johnson, this cycling festival in the capital runs across the weekend of the 9th of August. With a 100 mile bike ride challenge for amateur cyclists and the Prudential RideLondon Freecycle – a family eight-mile tour of iconic London spots – being just some of the great attractions across the weekend, there’s plenty to see and do for bike-lovers of all ages and abilities.
The Olympic legacy lives on strongly with cycling and nowhere more so than in the capital that hosted the games. If you are in London or plan to visit in 2014 take advantage of the great events on offer this year and maybe even get inspired to get out there and try some riding yourself.
All photos courtesy of Anita
